Chapter 31
The shepherds, on the move yet again, knew that Yen'fay's forces were approaching swiftly. It wouldn't be long before they met in battle, and Nathan was racking his brain for last minute battle strategies as they moved in their convoy. Say'ri and Chrom sat with him as the man flipped through his black strategy book.
"The dynasts who betrayed us, they seem to be closing in from our back, following our force." Say'ri muttered in disgust, sitting next to the man. "No doubt they are thinking that if they can help Yen'fay defeat us here, it would curry favour with the empire…"
Nathan nodded. "We can't defend on two fronts, or afford to get trapped on both sides…"
"We'll need to choose our battlefield carefully." Chrom added.
The group looked out of the convoy as they spotted a massive volcano, spewing a large black cloud of smoke.
"Huh. First Volcano I've ever seen." Chrom mused. "We don't have any of those back in Ylisse!"
Say'ri smiled, amused by the wide eyes of Chrom and Nathan as they peeked out of the caravan to get a look at the lava covered mountain.
"That one is called Demon's Ingle." She explained to them. "It is known, and feared, by all people of Valm. Few dare to even get close, not wanting to anger the wicked fire god."
Chrom and Nathan looked at each other for a moment, then back to the volcano, then back to each other. A devious smile formed on each of their faces.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Only if you're wondering how fast we can reach that volcano."
Say'ri gasped. "G…go to Demon's Ingle? You two are mad!"
"Only slightly if you mean mentally, but emotionally, yes, I'm still very pissed off." Nathan teased. "But, in all seriousness, that's where we have to be to fight Yen'fay."
Chrom nodded in agreement. "Your opportunistic 'former friends' wouldn't dare risk following us there. We can even use the flames and Lava to our advantage, limiting your brother's approaches."
"…And of course, he will still come…his stubborn pride will force his hand…" Say'ri muttered. After sitting in silence for a moment, the swordswoman broke a smile. "You two are insane, but this still might work."
"Then it seems we have our strategy. I'll go ready the other shepherds, and let them know we're going on a little trip." Chrom muttered with a smug smile, getting up and walking off to alert the others.
Say'ri turned to Nathan. "You two have a peculiar talent for performing miracles, and you'd better hope it'll work here…"
It took an hour or so for the shepherds to make their way to Demon's Ingle. Yen'fay and his group were close behind, and once they caught up to the Ylissean band, they were inside of the volcano, with Lava pouring out on all sides. The group had found a small section of rock to take on the enemy, and as lava spewed about them they prepared their weapons. As Nathan peered across the battlefield, he saw Excellus, the odd looking sage they had met at fort Steiger, teleport next to Yen'fay, speak to him for a moment, and then vanish yet again. The black armoured master swordsman stared them down from across the battlefield, before raising his golden blade.
"For the Conqueror!" Yen'fay cried. His Valamese troops roared in support, charging into the fray. As they did, Chrom drew Falchion and raised it high, gleaming in the sunlight streaming down into the volcano.
"FOR YLISSE!"
Nathan and the others roared in response, all rushing to meet the Valamese forces, while Lava spewed up into the air all around them.
The molten liquid split had split into the rocks and split up the shepherds into smaller groups. Nathan was with Lissa, Morgan, Owain, and Say'ri, while Chrom had wound up with Lucina, Sumia, and Cynthia. Lon'qu, Ricken, Donnel, and Frederick made up the third and Final division that was on the front lines within the volcano.
Similarly, the tight quarters had forced Yen'fay to leave most of his troops behind when entering the volcano. However, he had brought with him only his strongest fighters, which was easy to notice. Nathan quickly parried a blow from a golden-armoured Valamese Warrior as Lissa slid in behind him, taking out the enemy with a shot from her fancy new Arcwind tome.
"Thanks, Liss!" Nathan quickly called to her, as his wife ran off to help Morgan and Owain, who were facing a group of Griffon riders.
"Go help Say'ri, she's headed for Yen'fay!" He heard his wife faintly yell back.
Nathan turned to see woman in question recklessly charging through the enemy, cleaving them down with her thin blade, inching closer and closer to Yen'fay. The swordsman in question was clashing blades with both Donnel and Lon'qu, who were doing their best to keep up the frenetic pace of grinding steel. Yen'fay was a master swordsman, and it was painfully obvious that the two were outmatched. A swift kick to the ribs on Donnel, followed by a lightning fast strike to the ribs on Lon'qu knocked them both out of Yen'fay's way. The tactician ran to support Say'ri and ensure she didn't get close enough to Yen'fay without him there to back her, using his thoron tome to blast away some of her enemies.
"You're not going in there alone!" Nathan sternly warned the swordswoman. "I'll be your backup, you can deal with Yen'fay while I keep these guys out of your fight!"
Say'ri nodded; sweat dripping down her face from nervousness combined with the intense heat of the volcano. "Aye. Let's finish this." She told him, swinging her sword and staring down her brother, who was now just a few paces away.
Nathan looked about, spotting Valamese warriors closing in on all sides. "Um…maybe we could worry about you finishing this after we get rid of the rest of these guys-"
The tactician was cut off as Say'ri rushed towards Yen'fay, their blades clashing as their fierce duel began. The Valamese warriors watching from nearby all turned to Nathan, devious grins forming on their faces as they drew their weapons.
The man smirked, raising Mystletainn and his Thoron tome while readying his battle stance. "There's more than enough of me to go around, and if you all want to wait your turn, I'll hand out individual ass-kickings for each of you!" He joked.
However, the Valamese were less than receptive to Nathan's offer, charging in with their weapons raised. A strike from a gleaming golden sword cut one of the warriors down as Chrom jumped in to fight beside Nathan.
"Didn't think I'd leave you to hog all this glory for yourself, did you?" The Exalt teased. Another Valamese soldier was struck down by a fierce blast of wind pushing him into the boiling Lava, as Lissa rushed in to help her husband.
"You're not laying a hand on him!" The Princess growled.
"And no one is laying a hand on you either, mom!" Morgan added, swooping in next to them. Owain followed close behind, cutting through an enemy with his blade as he joined the group.
"Don't forget about me!" Cynthia cried, swooping in on her Pegasus, alongside Sumia. The two managed to provide aerial support, swooping in to help whenever an enemy got too close.
"Well, I think we just took the upper hand…" Nathan muttered, as Lucina followed in behind as well, using her Parallel Falchion to engage in a duel with a Valamese swordsman.
As the group fended off the Valamese, Nathan turned around to see Say'ri still locked in combat with Yen'fay. Sparks were flying as their blades met, but the tactician could easily tell that Yen'fay was using nothing close to his full level of power. The swordsman had to be much better than he seemed, or he wasn't using his full power, or-
The truth suddenly dawned on Nathan, remembering seeing Excellus talk to Yen'fay before the battle. "SAY'RI! DON'T-" He cried, but it was too late, as Say'ri managed to spot an opening, driving her blade through Yen'fay's chest.
An eerie silence fell about the volcano, with all fighting suddenly coming to a halt as Say'ri withdrew her blade from her brother's chest, a pained expression forming on her face as she watched the man collapse to his knees and fall before her.
"Y-you have…done well…Say'ri…" The swordsman weakly coughed, spitting up blood on the rocky ground.
"You fool! That wasn't your full strength! Why didn't you fight me with everything you had! What have you done?" Say'ri cried in panic, tears starting to form in her eyes as she realized what she had done. The remaining Valamese troops took this chance to make their escape while the shepherds were watching Yen'fay and Say'ri. Nathan quickly turned to the others.
"Don't let them leave here! Chrom, Frederick, you stay with me to watch over Say'ri, the rest of you, get moving!" The tactician barked. The Valamese then scrambled to begin running as the others scurried after them. Nathan then turned back to Say'ri and Yen'fay, as Chrom and Frederick walked up next to him.
"You are…more than…strong enough, now…to protect yourself." Yen'fay continued, his head being held up by Say'ri, who cried over the man. "You have made…powerful friends. Be safe…my sister."
With that, Yen'fay breathed his last, as his eyes closed. Say'ri wept over the man's body as Chrom, Nathan, and Frederick looked on solemnly.
"Say'ri, we need to-" Nathan began, before Excellus suddenly teleported next to them. Frederick quickly stepped in front of Nathan and Chrom, drawing his silver lance, as Excellus sneered down at Say'ri, clutching Yen'fay's lifeless body.
"Oh, how precious…brother and sister…" The man mocked, laughing.
"Shut your mouth, scum, before I cut you down here and now!" Say'ri screamed angrily.
"I'd advise you to leave, unless you wish to bathe in the lava." Frederick spat, glaring at Excellus. The Valamese tactician rolled his eyes.
"You're all fools. I could kill you all here and now, but there's no fun in that. I'm simply here to tell you the true story about this fallen swordsman here…" He jeered, pointing to Yen'fay.
"You will not deface my brother!" Say'ri cried, her anger boiling as much as the lava surrounding them.
Excellus scoffed. "No, no…I'm not here to deface him, let me explain."
"State your lies, worm." Chrom grunted.
Excellus laughed. "What I say here and now is nothing but the truth." Excellus told them. "Long ago, when Walhart was looking to recruit some Generals for his army, he saw Yen'fay as a suitable candidate. However, the Swordsman did not agree with Walhart's ideals. Saw them as foolish, even. So, he needed a way…to convince him."
"You didn't-" Say'ri growled, before Excellus continued.
"I took on the job of recruiting Yen'fay. It was hard, and I thought he would never budge…until I learned he had a little sister. One look told me that she was the thing he cared most for in the entire world…making her the perfect bargaining chip. I told him that if he were to not join with us…we would kill his precious sister. We had soldiers watching Say'ri from within the resistance, ready to kill if he were to reject our offer. They were even stationed within the resistance up until I convinced them to join our side…but regardless, Yen'fay accepted our offer, joining our side."
The man turned to Say'ri, laughing gleefully. "And, the irony! The one person he was trying to protect and keep safe is the one who kills him! Oh, I love it!"
Say'ri got up as quick as lightning, drawing her sword to swipe at Excellus, but the man teleported away, reappearing on another rock nearby.
"Haha! Oh, you are mad, aren't you?" Excellus mocked. "You should be mad at yourself, for killing your own brother in cold blood! Now then, unfortunately I cannot stick around…I'll see you all soon enough, I'm sure!"
With that, Excellus teleported yet again, vanishing from sight. Say'ri broke down in tears over the lifeless body of Yen'fay.
"That…that monster…" Nathan muttered in shock. Chrom and Frederick nodded in agreement.
"If anything, that merely confirms our next target. We march for the Valamese capital, and for Excellus' head." Frederick growled.
Suddenly, the volcano began to rumble, the lava beginning to rise.
"We have to get out of here, now!" Nathan yelled. Chrom and Frederick grabbed Say'ri, who tried her best to push them off.
"N-no!" Say'ri cried, tears flowing from her face. "W-we can't leave h-him here!"
"I'm sorry, Milady…" Frederick muttered.
"We don't have time!" Chrom yelled, as Lava began to flow around them. "Let's go!"
As the group rushed out of the volcano, they took one last look back at Yen'fay, watching as his body disappeared beneath the lava.